JJ Luna's personal privacy blog. In 1959 he moved to Spain's Canary Islands to begin a then-illegal educational work that included secret meetings in remote mountain forests. Although pursued by General Franco's Secret Police, he maintained his privacy via a false identity and was never caught. When the Spanish dictator moderated Spain’s harsh laws in 1970, Luna was free to come in from the cold. However, he remains in the shadows to this day. He is currently an international privacy consultant.

Friday, November 12, 2010

We license each of our vehicles in the name of a New Mexico limited liability company. The address of the New Mexico LLC (shown on the registration) is a ghost address in Spain. If we are ever stopped by a traffic cop, the first item to be checked will be the license plate number, followed by whatever is clearly printed on the license plate frame.

In this case, the cop is made aware of the foreign reference, and will find it to be consistent with the registration. (If asked if I work for the company, I always answer, "No, I own it." I get no further questions about this.)

True, most states do not allow a foreign address, but the same principle applies. If your New Mexico LLC uses a ghost address up north, just have the plate say "Fairbanks, Alaska."

However, suppose you do not use a New Mexico LLC. Instead, you license your vehicle in your own name but with a ghost address elsewhere in your state For example, you live in San Diego but your driver's license lists a PO Box in Redding. Why not get a license plate frame that reads "Redding, California?"

Monday, November 1, 2010

Perhaps you’ve already heard about the student who discovered the FBI had attached a tracking device to his car.

If you have not heard about this, do a search for “Guardian ST820 Muslim tracking 2010” (but without the quotation marks). As you will see by the pictures, the Guardian ST820 is big enough to be easily spotted if attached to your vehicle.

If you have any remote suspicion that the feds are checking on you—whether you are a Muslim or not—the first step is to run your vehicle up on a hoist and have a mechanic check everything out.

If you find such a device, your first thought may be to attach it to a long-haul trucker’s tractor but I suggest you first get some legal advice, fast. Remember, whichever three-letter agency put it there, they will claim the Guardian ST820 is their property and they will want it back!

If your car is clean but you are worried about the future, here’s how to avoid having a Guardian ST820 tracking device attached to your car:

Never leave your car in the driveway overnight, because (believe it or not!) your driveway is considered to be public property. Instead, keep your car in a closed, locked garage. When in use, have someone with you at all times. This person stays with the car and keeps a sharp lookout. (The going rate for a passenger to ride along is $10 an hour, which is what FedEx pays when their drivers need an excuse to use the HOV lane.)

Even then, do a spot check under your car from time to time. Keep in mind that the feds do not need a warrant to attach a Guardian ST820 to any vehicle found in a public place. Including yours.